Hello again,
My apologies for lack of contact! I have been spending most of my time at Halahin Lodge in Kartong with Moriba, Peter, and his drumming group that he brought from the UK. They are going to be staying here through the festival, and even performing. They are all studying with Mordou Diouf, a very highly restpected tsaba drummer based in Brikama. The drums- there are seven different sizes, all of which are narrower than a djembe, and the two or three largest tsaba are taller than one. They are played with one hand, and a stick, which is used in the dominant hand in most circumstances. I sat down with Mordou last night for an interview. He is quite a sweet man and has an interesting background. He has traveled a lot in the UK, and a little bit in Italy as well. The tsaba drumming is traditional to the Senegambia region (Senegal and Gambia). I have yet to see anyone in the states playing, but supposedly there is quite a large following in England because of Mordou.
I have been out in Kartong since Thursday or Friday, I will have to check my journal. Time has been flying by very fast! I'm going to be helping Peter out at the festival, which starts on Friday, with some minor services around the school grounds. We had a meeting yesterday, where I met all of the main local organizers from Kartong, and we went to the school. A K-8 equivalent school, where the teachers live in quarters within the grounds! I've never seen such a circumstance. It has been nice being out at Kartong, within five minutes walking to the beach, where it's cool, quiet- and Moriba's been with me usually, so I'm getting in a lot of kora playing as well. It is a little strange being around primarily toubabs, but it is nice to be away from the compound for a while- for various reasons! I have also very closely befriended much of the staff around here, whom most of are from Kartong- or family of Buba- the manager who lives in Serrekunda. He is being very friendly in letting me stay and eat at his resort for nothing. I think partly because of my financial situation, but I sense he is also intrigued to see a toubab from America learning the kora. Last night, Moriba was away, and I entertained the staff- most of them danced, sang, a grand time was had by all.
I don't have much more time- so I will sum up in short- I saw Habib Koite perform on Saturday night up in Serrekunda. I went with the UK group. The event was free, and put on by the Gambian Francophone alliance. I think Habib is from Mali (a former French colony). Habib is has a nice guitar sound- it was unfortunate in that the PA system was- well...awful! The vocal mics were turned up to the point where your ear drums were pierced.
Whoops, I'm really out of time. Email me if you have any Qs

love sean!